Cable clamp



Sept. 18 1945. c MELSEN 2,385,225

CABLE CLAMP Filed Dec. 4, 1942 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,385,225 a a H "cABLncL 1 Hakon G. Nielsen, Minneapolis, Minn. Q Application December 4, 1942, Serial mama 7 Claims. (01. 24 -123) This invention relates to cable clamps.

Cable clamps have been constructed previously with sockets into which the end of the cable is inserted and wedges for spreading the strands at the end of the cable so that they will not slip out of the sockets. Experience has proven that many of the wedges used in such cable clamp constructions are improperly constructed so that when heavy tension is placed upon the cable the strands will part inside of the socket. This is due to the fact that the strands of the cable which are normally spirally twisted are improperly gripped between the wedge and the inner wall of the socket.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cable clamp having a cable receiving socket and a wedge which is so constructed that. the spiral windings of the cable are properly gripped so that the strands of the cable will stand up under heavy use and will not break inside ofv the socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket member for a cable clamp wherein the cable is prevented from slipping out of the rear end of the socket in the event pressure is applied to the cable instead of tension.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description; made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which: A

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through myimproved clamp with acable anchored therein r Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken at rightangles to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modified form of construction in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the wedge;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Wedge;

Fig. 6 is a front end elevation of the wedge;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the wedge taken approximately on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

My clamp includes a. socket 9 having a longitudinal tapered bore l0 therein. Extending rearside ' wardly from the socket 9 is a pair of spaced lugs ll having apertures I 2 to receive an anchoring bolt or the like. The socket 9 is shown with the end of a cable l3 positioned therein and the strands of the cable are shown spread out by means of a wedge I4 embedded in the strands. The wedge l4 keeps the strands spread apart and prevents the cable I 3 from slipping forward to the right and out of the socket 9. In the event pressure is applied on the cable toward the socket 9 a pair of ears 15 on the rear or left-hand end of the socket 9 are bent over between thelugs II as shown in Fig. 2, thus preventing the end of the cable l3 and the wedge from slipping out of the rear end of said socket 9.

In Fig. 3 there is shown an internally threaded socket l6 having a: longitudinally tapered. bore portion [6a and a hexagonal portion I I on its rear end. .In this form of. socket I provide-a threaded plug [8 which screws into the rear end of the-internally threaded socket IE to prevent rearward movement of the cable I3 and wedge M in said socket IS. The plug. I8 is preferably internally threaded-from its outer end to receive a bolt I!) which at its other end may be connected with a rod 20 or other anchoring member.

In Figs. 4 through 8 there is illustrated my .improved cable strand spreading wedge. The wedge has a pair ofoppositely disposed valleys 2| and Zia formed therein. on opposite sides thereof. Eachof the valleys 2| andZla extends from the rear to the front end of the wedge l4, said rear end being illustrated .inFig, 4 and shown at the left-hand sides of. Figs. 5 and. 7.. Thevalleys 2i and Ila are curved .and concave transversely of thewedge and they deepen or .slant downwardly .and forwardly. As best shown in Fig.5, said valleys 2i and 2m are slightly diagonally disposed with regard to the. longitudinal center, of said wedge I 4. When ,the wedge is disposed with a valley side up and the wedge isviewed from the rear end forwardlythe exposed valley extends from a point more closely adjacent the left rear corner of the wedge than the right rear corner thereof, and while extending generally longitudinally of the wedge it extends diagonally forwardly.

The land 22 defining the left-hand side of each valley 2 and Zia is relatively thin and fairly sharp as atZZ-a but it thickens slightly toward the forward endiof the wedge. The land 23 defining the right-hand side. of each valley 2!. and 2m,

runs from the rear endof the wedge in gradually tapering relation to about thelongitudinally mid point of the right-hand side of the wedge. and from approximately saidmidpoint the right-hand side of thewedge increasingly falls away and is curved downwardly and laterally as at 24 until adjacent the forward end or bill of the wedge the right-hand edge curves downwardly from about the depth of the valley so that the forward part of the right-hand side offers no obstruction to receipt of cable strands'iinto the valley asrthe wedgeis forced into the cable.

The rear end of the wedge shown in Fig. 4 illustrates the shape of the valleys at said rear end, which general shape is maintained throughout approximately half the length of the Wedge ex cept that said valleys slant downwardly or toward a horizontal plane longitudinally through the center of the wedge, as illustrated in the front end view of Fig. 6. Adjacent the forward tip or bill of the wedge the diminishing of the land 23 produces a shape at 24 as indicated in the section shown in Fig. 8 which is taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5. The valleys 2| come together at the forward end of the,wedge roducing, atzthe bill a relatively sharp forward edge- 25 which, as best shown in Fig. 6, is in the shape of a slightly reverse curve when viewed from the end.

As viewed in Fig. '7 which is a side elevation, .itv

should be noted that the land 23 which extends valley being of progressivelyless height toward the forward end of the wedge and being lower than the land at the other side of the valley.

along the far side of the valley underneath the" wedge is somewhat lower than the edge 22a of the land 22 on the near side of the valley 2la on the underside of the wedge. exists between the two lands defining the valley on the upper side of the wedge; I n

With a wedge constructed, as shown and described, it has been found that ill' will keep the cable strands spread so they will not slip out of the socket and it will pressthem against'the inner wall of the socket evenly throughout the length of the wedge, and furthermore it permits the strands to come together wherejthey are twisted tightly at a relatively sharpangle so; that undesirable bending of the strands is eliminated, and pressure is never unduly concentratedcn individual wires of the respective strands. Furthermore, the groups of strands in the valleys 2 and 2la are maintained more in their normal twisted positionand are not straightened out Or distorted as is true in the case of other-types of cable clamps. Thewedge l4 has'only twovalleys therein thus making it a simple matter to insert the wedge in the end of the cable.' It is only necessary to work the sharp forwardbill end 25 of the wedge between the strands approximately in the center of thacable to divide the strands into two groups. Actual tests have shown that the cable is, so well seated in the socket when used with my wedge and that the gripping action is so well distributed overthe strands that there is more tendency for the cable to break outside of the socket than inside thereof.

As stated above the clamp. includes a socket which is so constructed that the cable and Wedge cannot be pushed out of the rear end thereof. Two forms are disclosedyone whereinthe ears l5 are bent over in back of the .Wedge and cable and the other wherein the threaded plug la is. screwed into the back of the socket. The clam with its wedge member is compact in construction, simple to manufacture and highly efficient in its function. It is particularly adapted for use on aircraft control cables and similar installations where compactness and lightness coupled'with strength is a prime necessity. v 7

It will, of course, .be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the form, details, arr-angement and proportions of the variousparts without departing from the scope of.,my.invention. a

What is claimed is:

l. A cable clamp comprising, an internally tapered socket and a wedge fitting therein, said wedge having two valleys in'oppositesides there- 3. A cable clamp comprising, an internally tap ered socket and a wedge fitting therein, said wedge having longitudinal valleys therein to receive strands of said cable, a land at one side of "each valley, said land extending forwardly ap- The same relationship proximately to the midpoint of said wedge, and from said mid-point said side being of progressively less height forwardly and laterally as the forward end of the wedge is approached, and a land at the opposite side of each valley from said first mentioned land being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said wedge.

4. A- cable clamp comprising, an internally tapered socket and a wedge fittingtherein'said wedge having a pair of valleys in opposite sides thereof to receive strands of said cable, said valleys extending forwardly along said wedge, a land defining one side of each valley and being of progressively less height forwardly and laterally as the forward end of said wedge is approached, a land defining the opposite side of each valley, and said lands and valleys terminating at one end of said wedge and producing an end edge lying on a reverse curve.

5. A cable clamp comprising, an internally tapered socket and a wedge fitting therein, said ,wedgehaving longitudinal valleys therein to receive strands of said cable, said valleys extending forwardly along said wedge and tapering toward the forward end thereof, and a land defining one side of each valley and extending forwardly approximately to the midpoint from said wedge and from said midpoint said side being of progressively less height forwardly and laterally as the forward end of the Wedge is approached and producing a cross sectional wedge end portion on a reverse curve. 1 v

6. The structure in claim 5 and the bottoms of said valleys meeting at their forward ends to provide a relatively sharp bill at the forward end of said wedge.

'7. 'A cable clamp comprising, an internally tapered socket and a wedge fitting therein, said wedge having longitudinal valleys adapted to receive strands of said cable, said valleys extending along said wedge. and slanting downwardly to the forward end thereof, said valleys lyingslightly'diagonally to the longitudinal center of said wedge, a land atone side of each of said valleys extending forwardly approximately to the midpoint of said wedge and from-' said midpoint said, sidebeingof progressivelyless height forwardly andlaterally as the forward end of the wedge is approached, complementary lands at 

